Perhaps you thought this bridge simply facilitates crossing. Yet \u96cd\u548c\u5bab\u6865 is more than just a way over something. It is deeply connected to the Yonghe Temple.
The Yonghe Temple also known as the Palace of Peace and Harmony holds a significant place in Beijing. It stands as a testament to both Chinese and Tibetan architectural styles. This Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism temple began its story in 1694 during the Qing Dynasty.
Originally the site housed an official residence for court eunuchs during the Ming Dynasty. Later it transformed into the residence of Yinzhen. He was the fourth son of the Kangxi Emperor. The Emperor gifted this building to Yinzhen in 1702.
Yinzhen’s rise in status directly impacted this place. In 1709 he became Prince Yong of the First Rank. Consequently the building’s name changed to reflect his new title. In 1711 a significant event occurred here. Hongli the future Qianlong Emperor was born in the East Academy of this residence.
A major turning point arrived in 1722. Prince Yong ascended the throne as the Yongzheng Emperor. His former residence became the Palace of Peace and Harmony or \u96cd\u548c\u5bab. After Emperor Yongzheng’s death his coffin rested in the temple from 1735 to 1737.
The Qianlong Emperor who succeeded Yongzheng further elevated the temple’s status. He replaced the turquoise tiles with yellow ones. Yellow was a color reserved only for the emperor himself. In 1744 the Palace of Peace and Harmony officially became a lamasery.
This transition marked a new chapter. The monastery became home to many Tibetan Buddhist monks. They came from Mongolia and Tibet. Yonghe Lamasery became the national center of Lama administration. Since 1792 it also served as a place for the Qing dynasty to control lama reincarnations. This control was exerted through the Golden Urn.
The temple’s history includes a tumultuous event. In 1929 an armed revolt against the Chinese Nationalist government took place here.
Following the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949 the temple gained national monument status. It closed for 32 years. Premier Zhou Enlai’s intervention is said to have saved it during the Cultural Revolution.
In 1981 the Yonghe Temple reopened. Today it functions as both a temple and a popular tourist site. The current abbot is Lama Hu Xuefeng.
The Yonghe Temple follows a north south central axis stretching 480 meters. Its layout includes five main halls separated by courtyards. These are the Gate Hall of Harmony and Peace the Hall of Harmony and Peace the Hall of Everlasting Protection the Hall of the Wheel of the Law and the Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses.
Inside the temple you can find incredible art. Three bronze statues of the Buddhas of the Three Ages stand tall. The Five Hundred Arhat Hill is an intricate carving. The 18 meter tall White Sandalwood statue of the Maitreya Buddha is particularly noteworthy.
Two steles are also present. They were erected during the reign of the Qianlong Emperor. Written in Chinese Manchu Tibetan and Mongolian they mark significant moments in the temple’s history.
The Yonghe Temple continues Tibetan Buddhist traditions. The Cham dance also known as bujak is performed here. This ritual occurs on specific days of the lunar calendar.
So the next time you cross \u96cd\u548c\u5bab\u6865 remember its link to the remarkable Yonghe Temple. This bridge is not just a crossing. It is a connection to a place of imperial history Buddhist practice and artistic wonder.